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Ethiopia to build 1,060MW hydropower plant in the Baro-Akobo River

Tigrai Online, July 21, 2013

The Ethiopian government is planning to build a 1,060MW hydropower plant in the Baro-Akobo River Basin.

The Ministry of Water and Energy has awarded the pre-feasibility and feasibility study of the Tams Hydropower Project worth US$1.5 million to the state-owned Water Works Design and Supervision Enterprise (WWDSE) and the Italian Electro Consult (ELC).

The proposed dam site is located between the towns of Bonga and Gambella, 449km Southwest and 766km West of Addis Ababa, respectively.

WWDSE and Electro Consult have collaborated previously in the supervision and design of the Ethio-Kenya power transmission line together with a German-based firm.

ELC has also undertaken the feasibility study of the dam for Wolkait Sugar Project as well as the supervision of Gilgel Ghbe II and Tana Beles hydropower projects. Currently, it is supervising the Gibe III and Grand Renaissance Dam hydropower projects.

In a related story, Ministry of Water and Energy has awarded a 23.2 million Birr contract to WWDSE for the feasibility and design study of the Upper Guder and Dabus large-scale irrigation projects in the Abay basin.